Vegetables grown for their leaves - such as lettuce and spinach - should be kept consistently moist. Others grown for their seeds - such as peas and beans - should not be watered before flowering as this will encourage leafy growth and few flowers.

Watering when in flower results in the production of more and juicier vegetables.
If water is in short supply, your potato crop can be increased by a heavy watering about ten days before harvest.

Effective watering
To reduce the need to water, dig in organic material when planting and apply a 50-75mm (2-3in) layer of mulch.

Newly planted and young seedlings should receive a fine mist from a hosepipe spray attachment or a fine rose from a watering can to avoid disturbing the roots. The tougher or older the plant, the more vigorous the watering can be.

Sprinklers are useful for large areas of the garden but remember that watering bare soil will result in the growth of more weeds. It is a good idea to leave a few straight-sided containers on the ground to catch the water and give an idea of how much has been applied. A 25mm (1in) depth would normally be sufficient for each watering.

When you're away
If you're going on holiday, you can leave your houseplants with a reservoir of water by placing them on the draining board on capillary matting that trails into a sinkful of water.

To make watering your garden even easier, see Installing an Outside Tap.